-----Original Message-----
From: Secret Cinema [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 10 November 2004 11:14
To: Secret Cinema
Subject: [secretcinema] MARGARET TAIT, 16 November 2004
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Tuesday 16th November 2004, from 7pm-10.30pm (with interval)
SUBJECTS AND SEQUENCES: MARGARET TAIT
A night of films, music and poetry to celebrate the life and work of
Orcadian film-poet Margaret Tait and launch a new touring film exhibition
and book.
'A writer whose openness of mind, voice and structure all come from the
Beats maybe, and Whitman crossed with MacDiarmid, but then cut their own
original (and crucially female) path. A unique and underrated filmmaker,
nobody like her. Born of the Italian neo-realists, formed of her own
Scottish pragmatism, optimism, generosity and experimental spirit, and a
clear forerunner of the English experimental directors of the late 20th
century. A clear example of, and pioneer of, the poetic tradition, the
experimental tradition, the democratic tradition, in the best of risk-taking
Scottish cinema.' Ali Smith, www.luxonline.org.uk
Margaret Tait was one of Britain's most unique and individual artist
filmmakers. Over the course of 46 years she produced over 30 films including
one feature, Blue Black Permanent (1992) and published five books of poetry
and short stories, while living between the Island of Orkney and Edinburgh.
Margaret described her life's work as consisting of making film-poems. She
often quoted Lorca's phrase of 'stalking the image' to define her philosophy
and method, the idea that if you look at an object closely enough it will
speak its nature. This clarity of vision and purpose with an attention to
simple commonplace subjects combined with a rare sense of inner rhythm and
pattern give her films a transcendental quality, while still remaining
firmly rooted within the everyday. Margaret once said of her films, with
characteristic modesty, that they are born of 'of sheer wonder and
astonishment at how much can be seen in any place that you choose ... if you
really look'.
Highlights of the evening will include:
Screenings of newly restored prints of some of her key works including:
Three Portrait Sketches (1951), Portrait of Ga (1955), Aerial (1974), Hugh
MacDiarmid A Portrait (1964), Colour Poems (1974), Where I Am Is Here
(1964).
A performance by Ian Pace of two piano sonatas, Sonata No. 4 (1957), Sonata
No. 5 (1986), by Russian composer Galina Ustvolskaya. Tait was inspired by
Usvolskaya's bleak compelling spiritual music, and felt a great personal
affinity with her as a fellow artist. As well as being contemporaries in
age, Tait born in 1918, Ustvolskaya in 1919 they both shared many
similarities in terms of their lives and art. Both worked outside of their
respective establishments creating art that was characterized by its
ferocious integrity and complete individuality.
Readings of Margaret Tait's poems and stories by contemporary writers Ali
Smith, Jackie Kay and actor/writer Gerda Stevenson. The evening will be
introduced by the exhibition curator, Peter Todd.
Tickets: £5, on the door or in advance from LUX, 3rd Floor, 18 Shacklewell
Lane, London E8 2EZ. Please send names and cheque made out to 'LUX' and
enclose an SAE.
This event launches a new two programme film exhibition from LUX and book
(Subjects and Sequences: A Magaret Tait Reader, published by LUX ISBN
0-9548569-0-2). The book will be available to purchase on the night, for a
special discounted price of £5 (retail £10)
at
Cecil Sharpe House, 2 Regent's Park Road, London NW1
Nearest Tube: Camden Town
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